[JasonKosi]

Okay, so I got my CoolJag 1U cooler delivered and I'm gettin' things measured out and mounting holes drilling an everything and I notice that the metal slug in the GPU isn't flush with the surrouding package of the chip.

I'm going to lap that down, but I wan't to make sure that I don't lap the GPU circuitry off .

Is the metal disk a heat spreader type deal or is it the actual core of the GPU? If I see a little copper after taking off some of the silvery material, will things survive?

thanks!

[Oni]

I wouldn't advise it. It sounds a little risky to be doing that. That's just me, however.

[TheBiz]

ver, very risky. although some people have done it successfully, many others have tried and taken off that oh-so-little too much to break some circuitry.

now, having said that. i have done it to a radeon before once.....and it survived too! as far as i know, the metal disc part is the core.....and once you sand enough that your taking the label off, then you should stop. use ultra fine grit, take it slow and careful........its easy to mess up(one step away from lapping the core of an athlon XP).

oh, and i didnt really notice a difference in ocing......so im not sure if its much use anyways.

[cack01]

Most modern CPUs and GPUs really don't need to be lapped. I sersiouly doubt people will see any performance gains when lapping modern cores. But in your case, since it isn't flush I would advise doing something in your power to get full contact with that cooljag. But please be careful, I still want that GPU to work, b/c I want to know how that cool jag helps your proformance.

[JasonKosi]

SUCCESS!!!

Thanks All!

Yah, the metal disk/slug wasn't flush with the chip packaging around it. I used 1500 paper wrapped around the cooljag and slowly lapped it. I checked after every 5 or 6 circles around it and stopped as soon as I could no longer feel a difference in height.

I noticed a very thin line around the outside edge of the circle where the silver metal had given way to some more like copper in color. I took that as a hint to stop as well

I'm fairly positive that I didn't kill anything as I'm using it now to write this post

Now time to start the OC process....

[Gandalf]

So with a 1U, yo uneed to cut new holes? Or can you just use AA?

[obliv]

Originally posted by Gandalf
So with a 1U, yo uneed to cut new holes? Or can you just use AA?

you CAN cut new holes, but just use some AS adhesive or AA...people say not to use artic silver, but man, unless u really arent careful, its better.

[Silver]

Originally posted by JasonKosi
SUCCESS!!!

Thanks All!

Yah, the metal disk/slug wasn't flush with the chip packaging around it. I used 1500 paper wrapped around the cooljag and slowly lapped it. I checked after every 5 or 6 circles around it and stopped as soon as I could no longer feel a difference in height.

I noticed a very thin line around the outside edge of the circle where the silver metal had given way to some more like copper in color. I took that as a hint to stop as well

I'm fairly positive that I didn't kill anything as I'm using it now to write this post

Now time to start the OC process....

Good for you. Took your time, was careful and achieved success. A little risky however soldiering on the mobo is more so. I lap all of mine and have been doing so for some time without incident. Care must be take though.

[Silver]

Originally posted by obliv


you CAN cut new holes, but just use some AS adhesive or AA...people say not to use artic silver, but man, unless u really arent careful, its better.

Agree however on the ram use either thermal adhesive clamped or cut the sinks or you may very well end up with heat sinks showing day light under them in areas. It is better (though more difficult) to drill out the mounting holes on the heat sink for the GPU. This will also allow you to readily remove the heat sink to use on a future card without destroying the card.

[Default]

i have disected a geforce 256 DDR gpu before and the copper plate is just that! A plate protecting the core and no there is no circuits in the black stuff around the outside of the metal plate that is all under the protected plate. By the way the plate is the full size of the chip and is more like a dented piece of copper. the copper square that most people see when they start lapping thier cores is just another indentation in the plate for the core to make contact with. here is a drawing of my findings.

from what i have experienced all gpu's with the plate follow the same design.

on another note the radeon 9700 wont have to be lapped
it has an exposed core like the athlon and P3's

[Default]

just cracked open a radeon 8500 and it is the same bloody thing.

[JasonKosi]

Thats good to know...

Yah, I drilled mounting holes in my CoolJag 1U HSF and mounted it on the card using the mounting holes that the previous HSF used. I even reused the springloaded pegs as well. I had to remove a couple of fins in order to make room, but I doubt that will affect cooling too much.

I think I'll leave it where it is as far as lapping goes. I couldn't feel any discernable texture to the top of the GPU so it's good enough for me A little thermal grease to fill in the microcracks and it's all good.

[wilhelm310]

i laped my geforce3 and its ok but be carefull

[rlemieux]

ask Hardass about lapping a GPU, I just sold him my old PNY Geforce 3 Ti200 because he cracked the core on his Ti4600

[wilhelm310]

omg tuff luck that really sucks